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MIDI
Standard MIDI Files
Standard MIDI Files
Midifiles, or Standard MIDI Files (a.k.a. SMF), are a practical
way of exchanging songs between different instruments and
computers. Pa2X uses the SMF format as its default song format,
so reading a song from a computer, or saving a song that a com-
puter software can read, is not a problem at all.
The Pa2X players are compatible with the SMF in format 0 (all
data in one track; it is the most common format) and 1 (multi-
track). It can read the SMF in Song Play mode and modify/save
them in Sequencer mode. It can save a song in SMF 0 format in
the Sequencer mode.
When in Song Play mode, the Pa2X can also display SMF lyrics
in Solton, M-Live (Midisoft), Tune1000, Edirol, GMX, HitBit,
and XF formats, and the chord abbreviations of SMF in Solton,
M-live (Midisoft), GMX, and XF format.
Note: The above trademarks are the property of their respective
holders. No endorsement is intended by inclusion in this list.
Standard MIDI Files usually have the ".MID" or ".KAR" filename
extension.
The General MIDI standard
Some years ago, the musical instruments world felt a need for
some further standardization. Then, the General MIDI Standard
(GM) was born. This extension of the basic MIDI sets new rules
for compatibility between instruments:
•
A minimum of 16 MIDI channels was required.
•
A basic set of 128 Sounds, correctly ordered, was manda-
tory.
•
The Drum Kit had a standard order.
•
Channel 10 had to be devoted to the Drum Kit.
A most recent extension is the GM2, that further expands the
Sounds database. The Pa2X is soundwise-compatible with the
GM2 standard.
The Global channel
Any channels with the Global option assigned (see "MIDI: MIDI
In Channels" on page 230) can simulate the Pa2X integrated
keyboard. When the Pa2X is connected to a master keyboard,
transmission should take place over the Global channel of the
Pa2X.
The MIDI messages received over a Global channel and not over
a standard channel are affected by the status of the SPLIT but-
ton, as well from the split point. Therefore, if the SPLIT button
LED is lit up, the notes that arrive to the Pa2X over this channel
will be divided by the split point into the Upper (above the split
point) and Lower (below the split point) parts.
The notes that arrive to a Global channel are used for the chord
recognition of the automatic accompaniment. If the SPLIT LED
is turned on, only the notes below the split point will be used.
These notes will be combined with the ones of the special Chord
1 and Chord 2 channels.
The Chord 1 and Chord 2 channels
You can set two special Chord channels (see page 230) to send to
the Pa2X notes for the chord recognition. The notes will be com-
bined with the notes that go through the channel set as Global
(Global notes are recognized only under the split point, if the
SPLIT LED is lit up).
The Chord channels are not affected by the split point and the
status of the SPLIT button in the control panel. All the notes –
both above and below the split point – will be sent to the chord
recognition.
The buttons of the CHORD SCANNING section have a particu-
lar effect on the Chord channels:
•
if you have selected LOWER, the chord recognition mode
will be set by the "Chord Recognition Mode" parameter in
the Style Play mode (see page 109);
•
if you have selected UPPER or FULL, the chord recognition
mode will always be Fingered 3 (you need to play at least
three notes in order for the chord to be detected). If Expert
was selected before choosing UPPER or FULL, it will
remain selected.
These two channels are especially useful for accordion players to
assign a different Chord channel to the chords and the bass
played with the left hand. In this way, chords and bass will par-
ticipate to the creation of chords for the chord recognition of the
automatic accompaniment.
The Control channel
You can set a MIDI IN channel as the Control channel (see
page 230), to select Styles and Performance from an external
device. See the Appendix for a list of messages corresponding to
Pa2X internal data.
MIDI Setup
You can play Pa2X with an external controller, and use it simply
as a powerful sound generator. To help you configure the MIDI
channels, we have provided a set of MIDI Setups (see "Midi
Setup" on page 110 for the Style Play mode, "Midi Setup" on
page 179 for the Song Play mode, and "MIDI Setup" on page 228
for the Global mode).
We recommend you to consider each MIDI Setup as a starting
point you can freely tweak. Once you have selected the most
appropriate MIDI Setup for the connection to be made, you can
modify the parameters as necessary and save them in a MIDI
Setup (see "Write Global - Midi Setup dialog box" on page 237).
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